Motorcycle thief jailed

A Zabbar man has been jailed for a total of eight years and one month for his involvement in the theft of three motorcycles during the operative time of two suspended jail terms and a probation order.

Anton Vassallo, 27, was found guilty of stealing a bike, the possession of another two stolen bikes, making a false declaration when he replaced the registration plates of one vehicle with that of another, and causing damage to the bikes between February and July 2003.

He was also found guilty of committing the crimes when he was serving a two-year probation sentence and during the operative time of two suspended jail terms - one of two years and the other of 13 months.

After evaluating the circumstances of the case Magistrate Conseulo Scerri Herrera noted that Mr Vassallo's criminal record looked like a book.

She jailed him for three years, ordered that the two suspended jail terms be put into effect and imposed a two-year jail term for breaching probation.

Police Inspector Stephen Mallia prosecuted